Sunderland AFC forward Jocelin Ta Bi headlines Ivory Coast’s 23-man squad named for their two-legged 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya.
Coach Sébastien Bannier has included the 20-year-old forward in a squad that also features Christ Tapé of FC Toulouse, Eddy Doué of Estrela Amadora and Mamadou Koné of FC Lorient.
Having previously featured for the senior national team, Christ Tapé and Eddy Doué are among the notable additions to the U23 squad as Ivory Coast prepares for the qualifying encounter.
The first leg is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, with kick-off set for 3:00 PM EAT. The return leg will be played on November 17, 2026, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
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Kenya head into the encounter having eliminated Tanzania 5-4 on aggregate in the first qualifying round. The Emerging Stars won the first leg 4-1 at Nyayo National Stadium on September 28 before suffering a 3-1 defeat in the return fixture in Dar es Salaam on October 6.
Ivory Coast, meanwhile, received a first-round bye and will be making their first appearance in the 2027 U23 AFCON qualifying campaign when they face Kenya in Nairobi.
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Ivory Coast U23 final squad to face Kenya U23
Goalkeepers: Konan Yvann Birama (Olympique Lyon), Zigui Christian Yoro (Stella Club d’Adjamé), Kouassi Kombo Ulrich Landry (FC San Pedro).
Defenders: Valou Jean Yves (Getafe), Touré Yomi Joress (AFAD Plateau), Fofana Bangaly (FC San Pedro), Tapé Christ (FC Toulouse), Konaté Valy (Cercle Brugge), Karamoko Mouhamadou (FC San Pedro), Kakou Emmanuel Junior (Cercle Brugge), Bamba Abdoul Goudousse (Ilves).
Midfielders: Zaouai Bi Alexandres Hugues (SC Bastia), Koné Mohamed Abdoul Kader (FC Annecy), Fofana Souleymane (FC Annecy), Ekou N’Guetta Rodolphe (FK Liepaja), Doué Guélanda Eddy (Estrela Amadora), Diakité Toumani (Slavia Prague).
Forwards: Bamba Souhalio (ASEC Mimosas), Coulibaly Hamed (FC San Pedro), Ta Bi Jocelin (Sunderland AFC), Konaté Oumar (Stade Lavallois), Koné Mamadou (FC Lorient), Goore Bi Christ Hylarion (KAA Gent).